You should be familiar with the Toyota drive pulse score term if you have been driving Toyota vehicles for some time now. So, what exactly does the driving score mean? What is its necessity? And more importantly, what is a good Toyota drive pulse score for drivers and vehicles?
Drive pulse score refers to your driving skills and is further connected with acceleration, driving smoothness, and road and vehicle condition. It will represent the driving behavior of the driver. Also, many people check their score in the Toyota app to know about the real-time conditions of the car.
Hence, we will discuss the meaning and controlling features of the drive pulse score. We will also suggest a standard score and ways to improve it. If you are keen on developing your driving skill for better performance, do stick with us.
What Is Drive Pulse Score?
Drive pulse is an app from Toyota that keeps track of your vehicle. It also assesses the driver’s behavior and performance while driving the car. After determining the driver’s performance, this app will score after each session.
Driving pulse score, thus, refers to the driving behavior of your Toyota cars, SUVs, pickups, etc. The app collects data from the attached vehicle through multiple sensors. It includes vehicle acceleration, odometer reading, and speed, and the Drive pulse score provides a scale of 0 to 100.
As you see, the app and the projected score will map the driver’s skill and performance. It showcases the driving habits of the driver in traffic. On top of it, the app helps you maintain the vehicle in better condition, as you know how they drove it in certain road conditions.
The drive pulse score shows daily driving performance. It also accumulates data and maps it for 30 days. Thus, you will also get a monthly driving performance mapping with the score. It helps you know better about the exact driving behavior.
Since observing the skill and performance for only a few days can be misleading, this 1-month extended driving behavior mapping is exceedingly helpful. It is useful to know where you lack and excel while driving. Hence, you can rectify the faults with ease without any guidance. On top of it, the drive pulse score helps you to know the car’s physical condition.
For instance, a higher score for speed means you have driven the car at high-speed. So, it has put pressure on the car’s engine and acceleration. It assists you in fixing the car problem fast.
The real question is how much score is good for the drive pulse app. Should it be higher or lower? Or, how does the score in the drive pulse app determine driving performance?
What Is a Good Toyota Drive Pulse Score?
Toyota doesn’t define the standard for the drive pulse score. Hence, it isn’t easy to figure out a good driver score according to the app. However, according to industry experts, a score over 50 is suitable for monitoring driving behavior for the drive pulse app.
We looked into different driving score testing apps, and they, too, consider scores above 50 a good one. Thus, it is estimated that you should maintain a 50 score in your drive pulse app to have a good driver rating.
However, the higher the score, the safer and better the driving is. So, you should be careful about speeding, cornering, and sudden acceleration while driving your Toyota car. Fast acceleration and cornering will decrease the score quite considerably.
Toyota has integrated the service along with its different automobile models. It has expanded almost more than one decade now. With the app and score, you can keep track of the vehicles driving. On top of it, the app provides you with two different driving score data:
- Individual trips
- Monthly information
Both are important since it helps you monitor the car and driving condition. So, you can prepare for any upcoming maintenance of the car. Its benefits include:
The score of the individual trips suggests how good or bad the trip was. You may have rough driving during emergencies, and the score will be less.
Overall monthly information provides you with precise driving information. Sometimes, trip and traveling information for individuals’ ones may misguide you. For instance, the score will be lower if you go off-road riding. But, with monthly reports, you can avoid such tricky results.
Before we get into these questions, let’s check out the factors contributing to the score.
How Does the Drive Pulse App Calculate Driving Score?
The drive pulse app works with different sensors of your car. As you run the app on your smartphone and connect it to your vehicle, it starts monitoring the car. It will observe the odometer, acceleration, and speed sensors to determine the score.
Odometer Reading
An odometer reading refers to how many miles the car has been driven. Thus, it evaluates the total worth of your in an estimated time. The higher the odometer reading, the more miles the car has gone. So, it will have less worth during resell time.
As the drive pulse app keeps track of the odometer reading, you will know the traveling mileage of the car. Also, the app prevents tempering of the odometer reading, as many drivers would do. It contains fraudulently of the car’s actual traveling mileage.
You can quickly find the actual odometer reading from the drive pulse score. So, you know it traveling distance over a given period. It not only helps you in the proper condition of the car but also assists you in its maintenance.
More traveling distance means the car requires more maintenance. Also, when buying an old Toyota car, you will know the traveling distance completed by the vehicle. So, this drive pulse mapping of the odometer reading will help figure out the precise value of the car.
Acceleration
The app also monitors the acceleration behavior of the driver. It suggests how roughly the driver has accelerated or de-accelerated the car. Almost immediately, this score mapping of the app helps you know your driving skills precisely.
You can also determine how harsh or smooth the process was from the data. If the acceleration is harsh, the driver has driven the car roughly. So, it is risky driving your vehicle.
You can also monitor the breaking smoothness and harshness with the overall score. It is crucial because sudden and rough brakes might cause injuries to the passenger.
Plus, harsh brakes and sudden ad fast acceleration pressure the car’s engine and braking system. Hence, these parts will require more than necessary maintenance. And it is costly.
Usually, the app will consider more than 6 miles of fast acceleration in 1-second only as bad. It is the standard practice for American roads and highways. Also, the conservative driver maintains it.
Speed
Finally, the app determines the speed behavior while driving the car. Did the driver maintain a standard speed? Or did he speed up the car too much? With this app and score, you can monitor all the speed-related information about Toyota cars.
If the car goes over the suggested speed, it will be recorded as a terrible speeding experience.
Toyota Models Compatible with Drive Pulse Score with Year
You see, the drive pulse score determines driving smoothness and safety. However, this app and scoring system is incompatible with all Toyota automobile models. Thus, you should find which model and manufacturing year supports the drive pulse app and scoring metrics.
The Toyota drive pulse app and most of its features are available for the following models:
- Avalon
- 4Runner
- Camry
- C-HR
- FJ Cruiser
- GR 86
- Corolla
- Highlander
- Matrix, Mirai
- RAV4
- Sequoia
- GR Supra
- Land Cruiser
- Prius
- Sienna
- Tacoma
- Tundra
- Venza
- Yaris
However, not all manufacturing years of all these models will work with the app. The compatible production year for all these models with the app starts from 2010. If the Toyota car is built before 2010, it won’t work with the app and scoring metrics.
Currently, Toyota has provided the app for all models up to 2023. They are expected to expand the time frame for all models soon.
Why Is the Drive Pulse Score Important?
You may be wondering about the importance of score in the drive pulse app. It helps you know about your driving skills, performance, and overall car worth after a given period. If you buy an old Toyota car, this score analysis will be the key decision maker.
A few of its importance include:
- You can understand how safe and smooth the last trip was. The score below suggests that you must improve your driving skills. You have had harsh cornering, sudden acceleration, inconsistent brakes, etc.
- If you plan to buy an old Toyota, you can determine the traveling distance of the vehicle. It is impossible to manipulate or modify the mileage information in the app, likewise in your odometer. So, it adds convenience to your purchasing decision.
- The scoring metrics and app allow you to monitor the cornering, speeding, and acceleration event and technique. You can use those to boost your driving experience.
- It can quickly retrieve harsh driving information. It helps you maintain the vehicle better by keeping its engine and car brakes in good condition.
- Finally, by maintaining a higher score, you can ensure the safe driving of the car. So, it helps in protecting the traveler from accidents and injuries. It is crucial because, in Texas, the top reasons for car accidents include speeding and unsafe turns.
Can You Improve the Pulse Score?
Yes, it is possible to improve your drive pulse score. You must avoid hard braking, unsafe turns, and cornering and limit your speed to boost your score above 60. It will make your car driving safe and smooth as well.
Different Ways to Improve Drive Pulse Score
We have said there’s the possibility of improving the drive pulse score. So, let’s see how you can do this for your Toyota’s safer, better, and more satisfying traveling experience.
Avoiding Hard Brakes
Hard brakes are the leading cause of poor scores in your drive pulse app. Thus, you must avoid hard brakes and rough cornering while driving your car.
It is estimated that aggressive behavior on the road is the primary reason for car accidents. The research findings on Australian roads suggested that almost 20% of road accidents happened due to rough brakes and cornering.
Hence, you must avoid it for the safety purposes of your car and passengers. It will boost the driving score too.
Drive Safe without Quick Acceleration
You should also aloof yourself from the quick and unnecessary acceleration of the vehicle. If you keep continuously accelerating the car to more than 6 miles per second, it will affect the score badly. So, always maintain a consistent acceleration for a safe and high score in your driving behavior.
Typically, you mustn’t accelerate the car unless you are in a hurry due to emergencies. The sensor will detect it as you carefully accelerate and slow down the vehicle. Thus, improving the overall driving score will be a great booster.
Toyota suggests you drive the car at 15MPH speed while cornering. It also recommends you take turns gradually without any hurriedness.
Keeping Weekly Driving Limited
Unless you are in long-distance travel mode, you shouldn’t use your car too much. Due to the commitment to sustainability and eco-friendly transportation, all automobile manufacturers discourage driving cars more than necessary.
Thus, the app lowers the score if you drive too many miles. We recommend you maintain consistency in your traveling distance. It will help boost the driving score. As the app sensor detects more traveling distance than usual, it will lower the score.
Therefore, you will get an aggressive driving recommendation. It will hurt your driving reputation badly too. So, we suggest you avoid extreme events as you drive the car from better scores in the Toyota app.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What Is Pulse for Toyota?
Pulse drive is an app for compatible Toyota vehicles. It keeps track of the driving behavior by monitoring traveling distance, speed, and odometer. It uses multiple car sensors for intriguing observations as you use the app with your smartphone and see off the harsh braking and aggressive behavior while driving with the app.
- What Is Harsh Cornering?
Extreme cornering events are when drivers maintain 8.5MPH lateral acceleration while taking a right or left turn. If you take turns with more speed, the app detects it as a harsh braking event.
In the app dashboard, you can see the total number of rough cornering for 30 days. After that, it will erase, and new information will start recording.
- Is It Possible to Opt Out of the Drive Pulse App?
You can opt-out of your vehicle from the Toyota drive pulse app by following these steps:
- Select the drive pulse app from the dashboard
- View the details by clicking on the “Learn more” option
- At the top-right side, you will see the “No Thanks” menu
- Click on it to select the opt-out option
- Finally, click “confirm” to opt-out of the app usability
Conclusion
We will end our discussion on what is a good Toyota drive pulse score. According to the app, you need to maintain scores over 50. For a better score, you should hit 60 or above.
You must avoid rough speeding, sudden acceleration, and harsh cornering to improve your driving score. It will also enhance your vehicle with a safe driving experience.
About the author
Marcus Brown is editor-in-chief of The FatMech and is a mechanic with ten years' experience based in London, UK. Having worked for major dealerships for many years, Marcus now works for a local independent garage and has experience working on nearly every make and model of car. Marcus also has a passion for writing and teaching, which is where the idea for The FatMech came from. In his spare time, Marcus enjoys playing golf, doing home renovations and gardening. He lives just outside London with his wife and son.